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10-Minute Paper

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Plant-Insect Ecosystems

On-Demand 10-Minute Papers

Biological control of the wild cochineal Dactylopius opuntiae using entomopathogenic fungi- and plant-based bioinsecticides: Toward a One Health approach

On-Demand
On-Demand

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Chaimae Ramdani

    Docteure
    Mohammed VI Polytechnic University
    Ben Guerir, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Morocco

    • Co-Author(s)

  • KE

    Karim El Fakhouri

    Mohammed VI Polytechnic University
    Ben Guerir, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Morocco

  • NT

    Noamane Taarji

    Mohammed VI Polytechnic University
    Ben Guerir, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Morocco

  • RB

    Rachid Boulamtat

    International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
    Rabat, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Morocco

  • MS

    Mansour Sobeh

    Mohammed VI Polytechnic University
    Ben Guerir, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Morocco

  • ME

    Mustapha El Bouhssini

    Mohammed VI Polytechnic University
    Ben Guerir, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Morocco

Opuntia ficus-indica L., is an important crop in Morocco that is susceptible to infestation by cochineal (Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell)), causing severe damage to prickly pear. The use of chemical pesticides to address this pest threatens human health, contaminates the environment, and has negative impacts on natural enemies. Thus, it is crucial to integrate sustainable alternatives, within the framework of One Health concept, to control this pest.

The double application of black soap (BS) at 60 g L-1 significantly increased the mortality of adult females up to 82.5%, 3 days after the second application. Similarly, the use of BS at 60 g L-1 applied in combination with Capsicum annuum fruit extract at 200 g L-1 showed high mortality of females (87.31%) at 168 h after application, and 84.9% on nymphs at 72 h after treatment under field conditions. Furthermore, the aqueous extract of Atriplex halimus or Mentha pulegium and Origanum vulgare essential oils, at 5%, exhibited good insecticidal activity, ranging from 83.75% to 100% mortality, 7 days after the second application against females. In the greenhouse, both entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (HASS and RFSL10) and Akanthomyces lecanii (RFSLV) isolates expressed pronounced toxicity on nymphs and females at 108 conidia mL-1 in combination of BS (60 g L-1).

These findings suggest that the use of plant extracts, essential oils and entomopathogenic fungi could be a promising strategy to manage D. opuntiae as safe alternatives to chemical pesticides, fitting with One Health concep